Fluid Film

[mbd]

It's a solvent free lanolin based lubricant and corrosive preventative. I just spoke with a battery guy and he went on and on about how well this product works.

Fluid Film: Corrosion Preventative, Lubricant and Rust Inhibitor (http://www.fluid-film.com/applications/boating/index.html)

Anyone have experience with this product?

[ebb]

Forespar's Lanocote ALSO comes in an 8OZ non-aerosol pump spray bottle for about $9.
Assume that the nozzle has a selection of spray patterns.

Like to see these two compared - and any other comers.*

The Fluid Film videos show the guys spraying copious amounts on stuff - with a wide spray pattern coming from the can.
Only once have I seen an aerosol can that had a holdster for the LostLittleRedTube (can't remember which.)

The marine video shows mostly guys polishing gelcoats on their toys....???

Don't know that opening up the panel on the Ariel and fogging the interior wires is exactly shippy.
But I'd be more than willing to do that if Mike or Craig or Tim D. or bill231 recommended it!

Fluid Film doesn't show the guys buffing the paint on their Mustangs or Macks with Fluid Film like the powerboat guys - but it IS an interesting concept.
UV has burned off the clearcoat on my Dodge in many places.
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adding a little pepper:
WD-40, which has been around for 50 years! has absolutely NO place on a boat!
[Water Displacement - 40th Attempt - wikipedia] Evidently composed of mineral spirit, naptha and mineral oil, with carbon dioxide propellant. All petroleum products, NEVER lasts imco. To me it seemed to CAUSE rust! Maybe good for cleaning metal parts. Go with the natural non-solvent products above.
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*Boeing Boeshield T-9 deposits a film of paraffin rather than sheep wax
and is another hydrocarbon thing.
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LATER EDIT
The cleanup solvent for Lanocoat and anhydrous lanoline is mineral spririts or naptha.
There may be a green alternative to aliphatic solvents.

[Rick_C126]

I have used Fluid Film on my snow plowing equipment including salt spreaders for years with great results. The boat seems like it would have some areas where it would be usefull including wiping down some of my hand tools.

[ebb]

See that FluidFilm also comes in a metal* pump spray can using no aerosol propellant - and therefor can be shipped non hazmat. If it is unavailable at the chandlers John Deer carries it.

Besides dressing hand tools
it seems that it would be good for stainless rigging wire**
and anchor CHAIN preservation.
Wiping down stainless tubing and any metal surface including aluminum.
It is evidently safe for any surface, metal, plastic, rubber.


In actual use it is a penetrant and it stays WET according to the company's data sheet. They suggest hot water or steam for cleaning it off when you have to - and also mention biodegradable cleaners (unnamed.)
Contains no silicone. But paint prepping old gelcoat/frp could be an issue.
Not sure how it works or how it 'feels' when on a surface, since I haven't used it, but I wouldn't want to track it all over the boat.
Would want to get it off my hands without having to wash or getting the hand cleaner out - with a rag or paper towel.
Don't know if this is a legitimate concern.....

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*Can't figure out how to spray the metal can it comes in to keep it from rusting.
**We know that stainless steel and aluminum both make a corrosion protecting oxide layer on their surfaces. Have to suppose that FluidFilm could be done after a certain amount of exposure and oxidation????

[mbd]

The battery guy said he had rust on a car fender. He sanded the fender down to bare metal and treated it with Fluid Film, intending to paint when he had a chance. Two years later, no painting was done, and now he is just applying the product to see how long it'll keep the fender from rusting without paint. (Not sure how often he treats the bare spot.) But he has gone through 2 winters now, and said he goes through car washes, etc., and the bare metal has not rusted a bit.

He suggested spraying down the battery terminals after connecting them to prevent corrosion. Also, my "stainless" stern rail has some rust spots that need tending to. I think I'll try this stuff out on my stanchions too.